Batang Ai National Park is home to Sarawak’s oldest Iban settlements as well a number of Sarawak’s remaining wild orangutan population. Clean rivers and jungle streams, refreshing waterfalls and undisturbed tracts of rainforest allow you to combine a range of outdoor activities with a longhouse visit in this remote corner of Sarawak. The Ulu Ai community-based tourism project was established in 1987 between a local tour operator and the Iban people of Ulu Ai to ensure the local community would be directly involved in and benefit fairly from tourism in the area. You will be able to experience the host’s culture and community on their own terms, in the knowledge that they are directly benefiting from your stay.
Getting To Batang Ai
It takes approximately 4.5 hours by road from Kuching to reach Batang Ai lake, from where you continue up river by traditional longboat to the Iban longhouses of Ulu Ai, including Nanga Sumpa Lodge. Lubok Kasai jungle lodge is located a further 30-45 minutes by boat up-river from Nanga Sumpa Lodge.
Staying In Batang Ai
The Iban inhabitants of Nanga Sumpa longhouse in Ulu Ai (a small settlement upriver from Batang Ai lake) wish to welcome visitors to their way of life whilst retaining their privacy and independence. For this reason, a separate accommodation called Nanga Sumpa lodge is set up in partnership with the nearby community of Nanga Sumpa Longhouse. You will be able to enjoy your own private space within easy reach of the longhouse, where you will be invited as a guest to share rice wine and Iban tales. Nanga Sumpa lodge offers simple rooms with communal bathrooms in the Ruai Wing as well as 3 new ensuite “Forest rooms”, each accommodating up to 4 people. Accommodation in this remote jungle setting is simple but comfortable enough for most visitors. Lubok Kasai Jungle camp is set up for visitors looking to experience a totally natural and tranquil setting, away from the sights, sounds and activities of a vibrant longhouse. The camp provides clean lodging with western-style toilets, mosquito netting, mattresses and bedding; its main attraction lies in its stunning riverside location and easy access to the surrounding rainforest and jungle trails.
For those wanting to extend their stay beyond 2 or 3 nights, longer options exist such as a 5D4N adventure on the “Red Ape Trail”, trekking deep in Sarawak’s rainforest in search of Batang Ai’s orangutan population.
